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U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Schedule 13G
Information Statement Pursuant to Rule 13d-1 and 13d-2
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. ______)
First Financial Bancorp, Inc.
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, $.10 par value per share
(Title of Class of Securities)
32020X 10 6
(CUSIP Number)
Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement. ______
(A fee is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous statement
on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class
of securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent
thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such class.)
(See Rule 13d-7.)
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities,
and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the
Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
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CUSIP NO. 32020X 10 6 Page 2 of 5
(1) NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE
PERSON:
First Federal Savings Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust
I.R.S. ID No. 36-3909938
(2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a)______ (b)______
(3) SEC USE ONLY
(4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Federally chartered stock savings institution's employee benefit plan
organized in llinois.
NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER 13,563
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER 18,810
OWNED BY
EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 32,373
REPORTING
PERSON WITH: (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 0
(9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
32,373
(10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
________
(11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
7.6% of 424,876 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of December 31,
1996.
(12) TYPE IN REPORTING PERSON*
EP
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CUSIP NO. 32020X 10 6 Page 3 of 5
ITEM 1(a). NAME OF ISSUER:
First Financial Bancorp, Inc.
ITEM 1(b). ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:
121 East Locust Street, Belvidere, Illinois 61008-3688
ITEM 2(a). NAME OF PERSON FILING:
First Federal Savings Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust
Trustees: Jack R. Manley, Morton I. Silver and Richard E.
Winkelman
ITEM 2(b.) ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE:
121 East Locust Street
Belvidere, Illinois 61008-3688
ITEM 2(c). CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:
Federally chartered stock savings institution's employee benefit
plan organized in Illinois
ITEM 2(d). TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:
Common Stock, par value $.10 per share
ITEM 2(e). CUSIP NUMBER:
32020X 10 6
ITEM 3. STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-1(b):
This person is an Employee Benefit Plan, Pension Fund which is
subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974; see 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).
ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP:
As of December 31, 1996, the reporting person beneficially owned
32,373 shares of the Issuer. This number of shares represents
7.6% of the common stock, par value $.10 per shares, of the
Issuer, based upon 424,876 shares of such common stock
outstanding as of December 31, 1996. As of December 31, 1996,
the reporting person has sole power to vote or to direct the
vote of 13,563 shares and shared power to vote or to direct the
vote of 18,810 shares. The reporting person has sole power to
dispose or to direct the disposition of 32,373 shares of common
stock.
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CUSIP NO. 32020X 10 6 Page 4 of 5
ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS:
Not applicable
ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON:
Not applicable
ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH
ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING
COMPANY:
Not applicable
ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP:
The reporting person is an employee benefit plan subject to the
provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP:
Not applicable
ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION:
By signing below we certify that, to the best of our knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the
ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the
purpose of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing
the control of the Issuer of such securities and were not
acquired in connection with or as a participant in any
transaction having such purposes or effect.
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CUSIP NO. 32020X 10 6 PAGE 5 OF 5
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of our knowledge and belief,
we certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete
and correct.
/s/ Jack R. Manley February 12, 1997
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Jack R. Manley Date
Trustee
/s/ Morton I. Silver February 12, 1997
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Morton I. Silver
Trustee
/s/ Richard E. Winkelman February 12, 1997
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Richard E. Winkelman
Trustee
